Romsey Liberal Democrats

Four new applications this week:

12/0541/FUL  54 Cavendish Road
2 storey extension to the rear.
More information available on the public access on line register: Here.

12/0567/FUL  3 Catharine Street
Box Dormer roof alteration. Replacement front door.
More information available on the public access on line register: Here.

12/0582/FUL  70 Thoday Street
Single storey rear extension and 2nd floor dormer.
More information available on the public access on line register: Here.

12/0602/FUL  66 Cavendish Road
Proposed loft conversion with rear dormer.
More information available on the public access on line register: Here.

Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert and Liberal Democrat councillors answered a call for more blood platelet donors on Friday, May 18.
Julian and the five city and county councillors supported a campaign by the NHS Blood and Transplant service to find more platelet donors for the Cambridge Blood Donor Centre.

Cambridge City Councillors, Susannah Kerr, Sarah Brown and Paul Saunders and Cambridgeshire County Councillors, Sarah Whitebread and Ian Manning joined Julian at the mobile blood unit for a one-off testing session at the Star Radio studios in Cambridge’s Mercer’s Row.

They were tested to see if they could donate platelets – tiny cells in the blood which enable clotting and help to step blood loss. These crucial supplies have only a seven day shelf-life and are used to treat patients whose bone marrow isn’t working properly, including cancer and leukaemia patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The Cambridge Blood Donor Centre, on the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site, is one of only two in the East of England to collect platelets and supplies hospitals across East Anglia.

works on east road

Utility companies could be charged a daily fee for road closures while they carry out work across Cambridgeshire.

The idea has been put forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Whitebread and would apply to companies laying new gas or water mains or carrying out similar work in the county.

Cllr Whitebread, who represents Cambridge’s Market Ward on Cambridgeshire County Council, claims the move could prevent lengthy closures such as the one which brought the city’s East Road to a virtual halt for weeks while new gas mains were laid.

She made her suggestion during Question Time at the county council meeting today (Tuesday, May 15) and it was agreed to look into such a scheme.

A similar idea, approved by the Department of Transport, will allow Transport for London to charge companies in the capital up to £2,500 a day for closing major roads. Companies will face lower charges if they carry out work outside of peak times.

“The county system at the moment has no incentive for speedy work, or to encourage work outside peak times” said Cllr Whitebread. “Given the frequency with which utilities companies need to carry out road works in Cambridge, I think a charging scheme of this type needs serious consideration.

“I also pushed the council to look at ways to encourage utility companies, when carrying out works, to keep roads open for cyclists. Often there is road space around the works that could be made available, but instead cyclists told to wait with cars or dismount and walk. In a city where so many people travel to school and work by bike, this clearly needs addressing.”

The county council’s Cabinet Member for Community Infrastructure, Tony Orgee, agreed to look into such a scheme.

No new applications registered in Romsey this week.

No new applications for Romsey this week.

All refuse and recycling collections for Cambridge City in the week beginning Monday 7th May will take place one day later than normal, with Friday’s collection taking place on Saturday 12th.

You can check collection days for your street at http://bins.cambridge.gov.uk or contact the council on bins@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 458282.

If you are having a clear-out over the weekend or doing some DIY, remember many items can be reused or recycled by donating to charity shops or taking to a Recycling Centre. For details of what can be taken to Recycling Centres and where they are, visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk or call 0345 045 5207.

If you have a celebration or BBQ and have extra recycling that won’t fit in your blue bin, you can take all extra cans, bottles and cartons to your local recycling point – find your closest one at www.cambridge.gov.uk/recycling

Strawberry Fair is to launch a poetry slam competition for young people age 13 – 25 from across Cambridgeshire. The competition will be free to enter and prizes include a prime performance slot at the Fair and opportunities to be mentored by critically acclaimed poets.

If you write poetry, love poetry and want to share your poetry, then they would love to hear from you. You can use beatbox, rap, mc-ing, polyvocal or acapella, as well as poetry and spoken word.

All you need to do to enter is:

1. Go to www.strawberry-slam.org.uk
2. Follow the instructions to post a clip of yourself reading or reciting your poem.
3. Wait to hear whether you have been selected as one of 12 finalists to go through to compete in the Strawberry Slam final on Saturday 2 June.

Deadline for entries: Saturday 26 May 2012

The entries will be judged by five professional poets from London’s Point Blank Poets Collective and the 12 finalists will be announced on Tuesday 29 May. The final will be held in the brand new Strawberry Slam stage at the Fair on Saturday 2 June, 7 – 10pm. The Slam will be hosted by the formidable Hollie McNish (a former UK Slam Poetry Champion) and emcee Inja, with guest performances from renowned spoken word artists Bridget Minamore, Sabrina Mahfouz, Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger.

To find out more visit www.strawberry-slam.org.uk or get in touch with amy@strawberry-fair.org.uk

Catherine has lived in Romsey for over 30 years. She is the only local candidate who can win this election.	Catherine has stood up for Romsey time and time again. She helped ensure that Romsey Rec was improved the way local parents wanted and she voted against inappropriate developments by Tesco.	Lib Dems got the County Council to invest £90m in repairs to roads and pavements. Unfortunately, Labour did not support the Lib Dems’ extra cash for pavements.

“My fight is not with the other parties, but for the people of Romsey,” says Catherine Smart.

A hard-working local resident who stands up for Romsey

Catherine and the Lib Dems got the council to improve Romsey Rec how residents wanted.	Catherine Smart is the only local resident who can win the election on Thursday. Catherine, who has lived on Ross Street for over thirty years, has worked for the people of Romsey for the past 14 years and more. Her challenger is a Labour candidate who lives on the other side of the city — off Huntingdon Road. Living in Romsey, Catherine sees things as they happen and can do something about them.	Catherine knows the area. She has worked to reduce its traffic problems.